Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Style

Function meets style: 8 phenomenal eat-in kitchen decorating ideas

Julie Scagell
By

The kitchen is the heart of the home. You want it to feel warm and inviting, whether you’re cooking, entertaining, working, or catching up with family at the end of the day. If you have an eat-in kitchen, that’s just one more consideration when laying out the flow and design of the space. You want to make sure there’s enough room to easily access the table and space to serve guests while still allowing for natural traffic flow in the rest of the room.

We’ll highlight eight stunning eat-in kitchen designs to get your imagination flowing for what could be possible in a kitchen remodel or redesign for your home. These eat-in kitchen decorating ideas will help you get started, depending on your kitchen’s size and your budget.

blue and tan color palette in midcentury modern kitchen with geometric tile backsplash

What is an eat-in kitchen?

An eat-in kitchen is a place in your kitchen where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. It is considered more casual than a formal dining room. Many people who built houses in the past decade did so without a formal dining room because they preferred a more casual feel when eating and entertaining. Eat-in kitchens can take many forms, from banquettes to breakfast nooks to seating around a kitchen island. If you have a large kitchen, you could put a kitchen table in as well. However you and your family are comfortable eating meals together is how you should design it!

Related

What are some options for eat-in kitchens?

If you are a family that’s always on the go, an eat-in kitchen provides the flexibility and convenience you need.

Recommended Videos

Opt for a corner nook

We love a corner nook banquette with bench seating on one side, so people can slide in and out and feel comfortable while they eat. These are great in galley kitchens at the end of the room next to a big window.

Add a long table for versatility

If you’ve got a wide, large kitchen and don’t need the storage or prep space of an island, swap it out with a long kitchen table instead. You’ll still have the flow around the table itself and can easily grab whatever you need from the fridge or surrounding countertops. Plus, the table can easily be moved depending on your needs. Hosting a large function and need to change the layout to accommodate everyone? No problem.

If you don’t have as much space, choose minimalist furniture like kitchen chairs or a bench that can be tucked underneath the table for more room.

Go for unique shapes

If you don’t have a perfectly square room or are short on space, think about a unique kitchen table shape to get the most out of the space. We love long, oval tables with bench seating on one side and chairs on the other, which work in a more narrow room.

Embrace a monochromatic palette

Another option to consider if you want the room to feel more spacious is selecting a monochromatic design in which your island or kitchen table matches the chairs (think all ivory countertops, tabletop, and chairs). This allows you to highlight other decor in the kitchen rather than focusing your attention on large furniture.

Invest in the details

To add to the comfort of the space, make sure you have an area rug underneath the eating space to give it a warm and inviting feel. Overhead, choose a decorative chandelier or pendant lights that will give you plenty of brightness when you eat and gather. Finally, connect the table decor to the rest of your kitchen with similar colors and styles so the spaces tie together. Once you’re done, you’ll have a casual, cozy space to work, eat, and play.

Options for an eat-in kitchen island

We love gathering around a kitchen island to eat. Making sure it’s cozy is all in the placement of the furniture.

  • If you don’t want to sit all in a row, add an island with half of it built as a table, so chairs can face each other and then tuck underneath when not in use.
  • If you are replacing your island countertop, consider one with a rounded end so people can face each other more easily.
  • Finally, make sure the seating itself is comfortable — we love barstools with back support that provide enough cushion that you can sit and stay awhile.

The goal is to make where you eat fit as seamlessly as possible into your overall kitchen design. That means something different to everyone, but having an area that can be used for both eating and prepping, like a kitchen island, makes the room feel cohesive. Similarly, if you decorate a banquette bench with pillows and other textiles, it can transform into a space for kids to do homework or you to work when you’re not eating.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Julie Scagell
Julie Scagell
Contributor
I am a freelance writer based in Minneapolis, MN. My passions include my dogs, talking about my dogs, and taking pictures of…
Everything you need to know about the whimsical fairycore style
What is fairycore? Here's what to know about this magical Pinterest trend
White bedroom with hanging vines and other plants

Fairycore has become a trendy design style for young girls and teens looking to create a whimsical and magical aesthetic in their bedrooms. Though, this style goes far beyond the bedroom and has proven to be a popular dorm and apartment aesthetic for young people. Thanks to the fantasy hype often seen on TikTok and Pinterest, fairycore has emerged as a unique and whimsical design style that many adore for its fairy-tale-esque aesthetic.

Today, we’ll discuss exactly what fairycore is and how it has gained so much popularity with the younger crowd. And, of course, we’re offering our tips on how to best use fairycore in your design. So, if you want to explore a magical and fantastical design style, then this could be just what you need.
What is fairycore?
Fairycore is a blend of soft pastel and earthy tones, plants, crystals, vintage trinkets, flowy decor, and anything that inspires a "fairy-like" aesthetic. The goal of this style is to emulate classic fairy tropes and fairy-tale scenery, particularly forest scenes and anything that reminds the viewer of fairies. As a result, you’ll often see features like decorative moss, crocheted animals, mushrooms, butterflies, flowers and vines, furniture with a whimsical feel, and sheer fabrics in a fairycore design.

Read more
6 incredible ways to achieve the perfect coastal kitchen aesthetic
Must-haves to create a coastal kitchen in your home
Kitchen with light blue cabinets and wood accents

Whether you live by the sea or far from it, it’s hard not to adore the fresh and simple look of coastal decor. The coastal aesthetic brings a refreshing and calming aura into the home, which can be a much-needed distraction from the hectic nature of everyday life. And what better place to invite this soothing design style than in the kitchen?

If you’re looking for simple decor ideas and tips on decorating the perfect coastal kitchen, we have just what you need.
Add plenty of wicker and rattan pieces
Adding wicker and rattan furniture is one of the easiest ways to create a coastal look in your kitchen. Wicker fruit baskets, pendant lights, and seating can add a down-to-earth and woven feel to the space. Rattan furniture can also be a fantastic option for a nearby sunroom or kitchen seating if you have space for a classic breakfast nook. The lighter tones and airy aesthetic of these pieces create the perfect seaside vibe.

Read more
These are the top home design trends, according to Zillow listings
These are the must-have designs according to Zillow
indoor outdoor decor ideas patio area

If you love looking at homes (whether you're in the market or not), Zillow is one of the premiere sites to do so. Not only does it give a good idea of what's available and coming available in your area, you can get home prices, up-and-coming neighborhoods, and plenty of design ideas when perusing homes. According to a recent study of millions of active for-sale Zillow listings, they even help to identify this year's most sought-after design trends. Here's what they had to say.

Outdoor spaces
Gorgeous outdoor spaces are having a moment, and for good reason. People are still spending more time at home post-pandemic, and having space outside to soak in the sun and be in nature is important. Backyards were mentioned 22% more often in for-sale listings last year when comparing them against the year prior. "The rising popularity of outdoor features suggests the pandemic has changed the way we want to live for good, priming the backyard for a 2023 evolution,” said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “When the pandemic forced all entertaining outdoors, homeowners reclaimed their backyards from the kids or the dogs.”
Mirror, mirror on the wall
While outdoor spaces make sense, this next one may surprise you. Mirrored walls, like those that were popular circa 1970-1980s are coming back. "Mirrored walls and even mirrored ceilings have been showing up 12% more than the year before," according to the study, but with a bit of a twist. This time, more antique or vintage-inspired mirrors are on trend, especially when they make a small or dark room feel more spacious and bright.
Other notable mentions
Other trends rising in popularity over the last year are private nooks in a home, even in ones that are more open concept. Think reading nooks, private yoga spaces, or just a quiet, well-thought-out space where you can spend some time alone. Another mention is continuing the use of vintage materials like wood and muted metals to keep a home feeling warm and lived in. Finally, kitchen islands are continuing to stay popular as we use our kitchens for entertaining, family dinners, work, and play. The bigger, the better, and the use of color that offsets them from the rest of the space are still very much trending.

Read more